Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world.

Today, the most important affair is firmness in the Covenant, because firmness in the Covenant wards off differences. ….Bahá’u’lláh covenanted, not that I (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) am the Promised One, but that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the Expounder of the Book and the Centre of His Covenant, and that the Promised One of Bahá’u’lláh will appear after one thousand or thousands of years. This is the Covenant which Bahá’u’lláh made. If a person shall deviate, he is not acceptable at the Threshold of Bahá’u’lláh. In case of differences, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá must be consulted. They must revolve around his good pleasure. After ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, whenever the Universal House of Justice is organized it will ward off differences.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, cited in “Star of the West”, vol. IV, no. 14, November 1913, p. 237, quoted as extract 13 in the compilation The Covenant, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

O Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice. Turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By it's aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart how it behooveth thee to be. Verily Justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My living-kinfness. Set it then before thine eyes.

• Baha'u'llah

Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship ....

They that are endued with sincerity and faithfulness should associate with all the people's and kindness of the earth with joy and radiance, inasmuch as consorting with people hath promoted and will continue to promote unity and concord. Which in turn are conducive to the maintenance of order in the world and to the regeneration of nations.

Baha'u'llah

Not all believers can give public talks, not all are called upon to serve on administrative institutions. But all can pray, fight their own spiritual battles, and contribute to the Fund. If every believer will carry out these sacred duties, we shall be astonished at the accession of power which will result to the whole body, and which in its turn will give rise to further growth and the showering of greater blessings on all of us.

The UHJ: Wellspring of Guidance

Greetings friends!

Apologies if this is redundant but I can’t seem to find any prayers specifically expressing gratitude to God. When I want to express gratitude to God I just feel those feelings and picture the things I am grateful for in my mind during morning prayers. So just saying that because I don’t need anybody to do hours of searching the writings for me as I feel satisfied with morning prayers but I’m just curious.

Blessings!

Drop your wishes below

Interesting, here are two references saying that the Word of God can be found in books of men. It only makes sense because the Holy Spirit is omnipresent and would inspire receptive souls.

"No breeze can compare with the breezes of Divine Revelation, whilst the Word which is uttered by God shineth and flasheth as the sun amidst the books of men." ESW 72

" ..the Báb said: “It is the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit that causes words such as these to stream from the tongue of poets, the significance of which they themselves are oftentimes unable to apprehend. " Nabil, "The Dawn-Breakers", 13.19

Any Baha'i will get the reference to the below lyric from Elton John.

Elton John - Oh, when dawn came this morning
You discovered a feeling that burned like a flame in your soul

Like the song says, "Your on my Mind like a Song on the Radio"

​

Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe. The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him. Such a soul provideth, at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being, and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest. Consider how meal needeth leaven to be leavened with. Those souls that are the symbols of detachment are the leaven of the world. Meditate on this, and be of the thankful.

—[Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh]

Here are some more passages that relate to the station of the soul, or its condition after death:

The movement of My Pen is stilled when it attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so exalted a station...

—[Gleanings]

Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is independent of all infirmities of body or mind...

—[Gleanings]

The moment thou touchest the Cup with thy lips, the Concourse on high will acclaim thee saying...

—[Gleanings]

...and become the recipients of a grace that is infinite and unseen...

—[The Kitáb-i-Íqán]

If such be the blessings conferred on all created things, how superior must be the destiny of the true believer, whose existence and life are to be regarded as the originating purpose of all creation...

—[Gleanings]

They, verily, shall be the recipients of God's grace; they, verily, shall receive His divine assistance, and shall be truly victorious...

—[Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá]

Quoted by the Guardian from a Tablet by Abdu’l-Baha, The Messages from the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith to the Bahá’í Community of the British Isles-Letter of 5 March 1922

O ye handmaids of the merciful Lord! How many
queens of this world laid down their heads on a
pillow of dust and disappeared. No fruit was left of
them, no trace, no sign, not even their names. For
them, no more granting of bestowals; for them, no
more living at all. Not so the handmaids who
ministered at the Threshold of God; these have
shone forth like glittering stars in the skies of ancient
glory, shedding their splendours across all the
reaches of time. These have fulfilled their dearest
hopes in the Abha Paradise; they have tasted the
honey of reunion in the congregation of the Lord.
Such souls as these profited from their existence
here on earth: they plucked the fruit of life.

-Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 23

“O wayward generation!” were the last words of the Báb to the gazing multitude, as the regiment prepared to fire its volley, “Had you believed in Me every one of you would have followed the example of this youth, who stood in rank above most of you, and would have willingly sacrificed himself in My path. The day will come when you will have recognized Me; that day I shall have ceased to be with you.”

Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm

The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh - Part One: From the Arabic - Number 57

O SON OF MAN!

Bestow My wealth upon My poor, that in heaven thou mayest draw from stores of unfading splendor and treasures of imperishable glory. But by My life! To offer up thy soul is a more glorious thing couldst thou but see with Mine eye.

- Bahá'u'lláh

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